William s



(No Model.)

W. S. LAYGOCK.

SPRING ROLLER.

AT1-nvr vinca.

WILLIAM LAYOOOK, OF SHEFFIELD, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.y

SFRIMGi-ROLLER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,339, dated January 30, '185.3. Application tiled September 19, i882. (No model.) Patented in England July 14, 1882, No. 3,344.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM SAMUEL LAY- COGK, of Sheffield, in the county ot'York, Kingdom of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Selt`-Acting Window-Blind Apparatus;

-and I do hereby declare that the f'ollowing is V blinds of railway-cars.

The object of my invention is to obtain certainty ofaction,'together with simplicity ofcoustruction, in apparatus or xtures of the aforesaid class; and I attain this result by the combinations of mechanism illustrated on the annexed sheet of drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation ot' a blind-roller furnished with the preferred species of my said apparatus, Figs. 2 and 3 being views of the latter in directions opposite to each other and at right angles to that of Fig. l; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are like views of another roller and apparatus, illust-rating a modification of my invention, shown partly in section.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 represent, as aforesaid, my preferred arrangement of parts, the mechanism being located outside the roller.- A is the roller, to which the Weighted blind is attached, the roller-axles being supported by plates B B, in which they are free to rotate. At one end the axle has a pinion, O, fast thereon, and gearing therewith is a spur-wheel,D, which is actuated by a coiled winding-spring, E, one end of the spring being attached to the wheel and the other to a stud, F, on the adjacent plate. This arrangement ota wheel and pinion is for the purpose of obtaining the required'number of revolutions of the roller with the least variation in the power ofthe spring. G is a plate to retain the coils of the spring in position. At the other end of the roller a frictionplate,7 H, is secured on the axle. A ratchetwheel, I, is mounted loosely ou this axle, being free to revolve in the direction ofthe winding-up action. A catch-pawl, J, prevents it revolving in the contrary direction. Theratchet-wheel is pressed against the friction-plate by a spiral spring', K, surrounding the shaft, the pressure being readily adj ustable by means ot' a nut and lock-nut, L, applied to the screw P is of a more common form, being an internal` and direct-acting spiralspring. The axle M is held against rotation in the bracket N at one end ot' the roller, and is supported at its uother end in a bearing, O, within the roller. The spring P is secured at the end Q to the fixed axle M, and at the other end, It, to the bearing O. The action of drawing down the blind carries round the end It ot' "the, spring, ceiling it up sufficiently to draw up the blind when required. S is a short piece of tube driven tightlyl into the other end ofthe roller, and carrying a short axle, M2, provided with a ratchet-wheel, I, friction-plate H, spiral spring K, and adjusting-nuts L, substantially identical with those before described, save that these are arranged within the roller, a simple bracket, N2, forming a bearing for the said axle M2, coactin g therewith to support its endv of the roller, and provided with a pawl, J, to coact with said ratchet-wheel I.

I am aware that prior to my invention window-blind apparatus or curtain-fixtures have been made with springs thatare wound up by the operation of drawing down the blind, and with friction devices to aid in suppporting the blind in any desired position, and I therefore IOO do not claim such arrangements, broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In window-blind apparatus or curtainxtures operating as herein specified, the oombination, with a rotary axle and a fixed support therefor, of a friction-plate, II, ratchetwheel I, pawl J, spiralspring K, and adjusting-nuts L, substantially as shown 'and described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In Window-blind apparatus or curtainxtures operating as herein specified, the combination, with a roller, A, having an axle at each end rotating therewith, and plates B B, 

